A Day of Birding, Finally... Part 1

Wow it was so good to be out and about on Saturday. Preparing to job hunt for a teaching position as opposed to a job (I'm in one of those closing schools) and writing and delivering the school history has kept me away from the blog. I have missed it.

West Pond - Jamaica Bay

I started the day at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge about 6:45 AM. The fog was still settled over the refuge. I started with a walk through the woods. I didn’t see as many warblers as I would have liked but got good views of the male and female American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla), White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus) a life bird for me and several Yellow Warblers. I continued on to the back side of the West Pond. I had beautiful views of Yellow Warblers (Dendroica petechia), Common Yellowthroats (Geothlypis trichas) and a Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus) I think. Some fellow birders mentioned that there was a Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) still on the other side of the pond. I had forgotten how small they are but we finally located it. It sat for quite a while and didn’t move, once it started to move it was easier to see this beautiful bird. The bird did some limited spinning but was mostly walking around the edge on the pond. Also saw a White-rumped sandpiper.


Gray Catbird - Dumetella carolinensis




Common Yellowthroat - Geothlypis



White-eyed Vireo - Vireo griseus (lifebird)




White-eyed Vireo





Yellow Warbler - Dendroica petechia



Least Flycatcher - Empidonax minimus (I think) Let me know if you don't agree and what it is. I looked at all the flycatchers and this seemed the best fit because of the all white breast and belly



Glossy Ibis - Plegadis falcinellus

  
 

Female American Redstart - Setophaga ruticilla



Red-necked Phalarope and White-rumped Sandpiper

After a couple of hours I headed for Breezy Point with my friend Andrea for a little lunch and some more great birding. A couple of nice surprises awaited us there but I’ll save that for tomorrow.

Birds in Reflection

I love pictures that have the subject of the photo also seen in reflection. (Wasn't quite sure how to word that) Anyhow, these are a few shots I got at Jamaica Bay from the East Pond early on a Sunday morning.

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Lesser Yellowlegs and Semipalmated Sandpipers

Wilson's Phalarope

Glossy Ibis

Lesser Yellowlegs

Lesser Yellowlegs

Glossy Ibis at Jamaica Bay

Wow, what a great day! I went to breakfast with a friend. He asked me what my day was like and since I had no plans he said let's go for a walk. He gave me directions and when we made a turn off the beltway I recognized the name of the boulevard. I asked, "Are we going to the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge?" Come to find out he goes there 4 or 5 times a year to escape the city and enjoy the birds.
Funny thing was I just yesterday corresponded with Birding Dude asking him about the refuge and the safety of a woman walking the trails alone.

So, here I was walking the trail of West Pond. I saw glossy ibis (pictured), oystercatchers (LB), yellow-crowned night heron, egrets, marsh wrens, gray catbird, northern mockingbird and many others I couldn't get close enough to identify.